112 Heyiry Riddell on 



it has abolished an established Church and retained the Monarch 

 in faster bonds. Its new Constitution is looked upon as a 

 chef d'oeuvre of perfection, as forming a guarantee against 

 every danger, as ensuring to them an ever during liberty. May 

 they enjoy it as they deserve it. Their laws are good but will 

 they be fulfilled'? Were a second Buonaparte to arrive, could he 

 not, taking advantage of the natural vivacity of the nation, 

 trample oti their newly acquired rights and set up a new subject 

 for their admiration V I am inclined to think you will agree 

 that a boy of sixteen shows here a graphic power of expression 

 and an insight far beyond his years. Continuing his tour he 

 passed through the mountainous Auvergne region, giving close 

 study to the geological formations and collecting specimens which 

 he catalogues and names. As showing the terms of the friendship 

 between him and Dr. McDonnell I shall quote one or two letters 

 of the Doctor's which have survived till to-day. The good Doctor 

 had been studying many subjects in which he was interested and 

 refers to experiments in which Andrews had shared. He had 

 been investigating the proportion of CO2 in atmospheric air, and 

 had been taking samples upon the hills round Belfast. He had 

 been studying the geology of County Antrim and County Down, 

 and experimenting on the effect of altitude on the pulse and 

 respiration. We find him putting a number of geological questions 

 to Andrews on his journey through Auvergne, and he goes on — 

 I much wish to know whether Chemistry furnishes any plain 

 or simple criterion by which to distinguish Trapps from all other 

 rocks except Lava, and again another difference between Lava 

 and Trapp'? Is there any chalk or Lias or Mulatto in Auvergne? 

 and, if dykes cutting them, change the lime into marble or render 

 it phosphorescent ? Any red flints or gypsum *? and how situated 

 with regard to the Trapp *? Whether the Trapp lies horizontal 

 or vertical ? — Is the outline of the mountains like or unlike oursl " 

 In another letter, sent by the hand of a friend, he opens very 

 characteristically " My dear Thomas, finding that this costs me 

 nothing I must write, though I have nothing of moment to say." 



